How Samoa became American
1
Samoa is a beautiful island nation located in the south-central region of the Pacific Ocean. The cluster of islands gained its independence in 1962, after sixty-three years of being a German territory; yet today, it is a territory of the United States. In fact, it is referred to as American Samoa. Despite being 2,200 miles from Hawaii, the closest part of the United States of America, Samoa still became an unincorporated territory of the U.S. in 1899.
2 Samoa was originally settled by the Polynesian people (likely from Tonga) in 1000 BCE. Polynesian people were expert explorers, making their way to Hawaii and parts of what we now call South America throughout their history. But in 1772, a Dutch explorer by the name of Jacob Roggeveen first found Samoa and reported back to Europe. Many nations soon followed, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and more.
By 1887, the U.S. had also made its way to Samoa. They strong-armed the Samoans into signing a treaty to create a naval base in Pago Pago Harbor, the capital of Tutuila Island, one of the largest natural harbors in the world. A decade after the treaty, the U.S. illegally invaded Hawaii, another Polynesian nation. This set the tone for future interactions with Polynesian nations. In 1899, colonial powers split Samoa into territories; Germany took the western part, and the U.S. controlled the eastern islands. At that time, the Indigenous people had yet to cede their own power.
Through the 1900s, many changes took place in Samoa. Until 1951, the United States Naval Station Tutuila ruled the island nation. Indigenous people didn’t have a say in the development of their own land. In 1951, the U.S. Department of the Interior took over the governance of American Samoa and appointed a governor from the U.S., still not in consultation with the Indigenous population. The governor, a man by the name of Phelps Phelps, made further appointments without consulting the locals. This meant having an entire government that was not elected by the people, which violates one of the central tenets of U.S. democracy.
The Polynesian people advocated for themselves until 1977 when they achieved the right to vote for their own governor, though they still had no representation in the House of Representatives, not until 1981. Until that time, they were allowed to send a non-voting representative. Since then, there have been very few changes in Samoan governance. Even if people are born in American Samoa, they are born American Nationals, not citizens.
There are many arguments for the people of Samoa to become American citizens, as well as for them not to. The main arguments against citizenship have to do with the Samoan way of life, known to the Samoan people as fa’asamoa. This way of life drives local chiefs to run communally held lands and utilize extended families to build the social structure. If they become U.S. citizens, the laws pertaining to land ownership may be challenged, and as we see in current day Hawaii, that can lead to losing protected lands and ousting Indigenous people. That would be devastating.
Why are people born on American soil not considered American citizens? The reason has to do with their unincorporated status. At the end of the Spanish American War, the U.S. government created ‘unincorporated territories’ to prevent ‘uncivilized races’ from becoming too dangerous by granting them citizenship. While the laws were built in xenophobia and hatred, they still remain today.
Without American citizenship, American Samoans face many obstacles and restrictions. They have to receive special permission to travel to places that American citizens never have to think about. Despite being born under an American flag, they are treated like anyone else born outside the United States. They can be drafted into military service, yet they cannot vote on any of these orders that affect them. While there are paths to citizenship, they often involve having to join the military. Is it really to force people to risk their lives before recognizing their right to citizenship?
Many American Samoan families have begun to sue for citizenship. While people remain on both sides of the argument, no one yet knows what the future will hold.
For now, American Samoa remains a unique territory within the United States, with its own distinct culture and governance. The history of how Samoa became American highlights the complex relationship between the United States and its territories, as well as the ongoing struggles for equality and representation faced by the Indigenous people of Samoa. As discussions continue around the issue of citizenship for American Samoans, it is important to consider the impact on their way of life and cultural traditions, as well as the principles of democracy and equal rights for all individuals born on American soil.
What does the word tenet mean in paragraph 4?
A.
announcement
B.
leader
C.
principle
D.
question
C. principle
In this context, the word "tenet" refers to a central principle or belief of U.S. democracy.
What is the central idea of the text?
A.
Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory that has none of the benefits of citizenship.
B.
Samoa has been invaded by many colonial powers with different agendas.
C.
The people of Samoa have a history of war and other conflicts on their island.
D.
The people of Samoa deserve to be treated like other Americans.
D. The people of Samoa deserve to be treated like other Americans.
The central idea of the text revolves around the ongoing debate and struggles faced by the people of American Samoa regarding their citizenship status and equal treatment within the United States. It discusses their history of colonization, lack of representation, and challenges in achieving full citizenship rights. The text emphasizes the argument that the people of Samoa deserve to be treated like other Americans in terms of rights and recognition.
How does the author represent the power struggle that surrounds Samoa?
A.
by making predictions about the future
B.
by providing examples of historical events
C.
by comparing Samoans to Polynesians
D.
by incorporating anecdotes from real people
B. by providing examples of historical events
The author represents the power struggle surrounding Samoa by providing examples of historical events, such as the involvement of colonial powers like the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom in the history of Samoa. This historical context helps to illustrate the ongoing power struggle and lack of Indigenous representation in the governance of American Samoa.
How does the author distinguish between Polynesia's settlement of Samoa and European and American interest in Samoa?
A.
The author discusses Polynesia in the past tense and Europe and America in the present tense.
B.
The author praises the actions of Polynesians and condemns the actions of Europeans and Americans.
C.
The author describes competition and control in relation to Europe and America only.
D.
The author highlights Polynesian settlement and only briefly mentions European and American settlement.
D. The author highlights Polynesian settlement and only briefly mentions European and American settlement.
The author focuses on the Polynesian settlement of Samoa, emphasizing their early arrival and exploration of the region. While European and American interest and involvement in Samoa are also discussed, the primary distinction lies in the detailed description of Polynesians settling in Samoa, compared to the brief mentions of European and American actions in the region.